Pusher machine with articulated pusher bar



P. HIAVELY 2,609,948

PUSHER MACHINE WITH ARTICULATED PUSHER BAR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

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Sept. 9, 1952 Filed Aug. 12, 1949 Sept. 9, 1952 P. H. LAVELY 2,509,948

PUSHER MACHINE WITH ARTICULATED PUSHER BAR Filed Aug. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 N V EN TOR. R401. 66%.?!) 4.44 54 r x r 8 A 5 M w 5 .2 a 0 6 mm N MW 2 l 4. 2 w WM 1 X 0 s .r M :1 T 2 H A M 7 m w 4 S 0 a, 5

P H LAVELY PUSHER MACHINE WITH ARTICULATED RUSK- ER BAR Sept. 9, 1952 Filed Aug. 12, 1949 Patented Sept. 9, 1952 PUSHER MACHINE WITH ARTICULATED PUSHER BAR Paul Howard Lavely, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Koppers Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application August 12, 1949, Serial No. 109,960 9 Claims. (01. 214-23) My invention relates broadly to horizontal coke ovens and particularly to an improved pusher machine for pushing the incandescent coke cakes out of the oven chambers.

A battery of horizontal coke ovens comprises a number of long, narrow, relatively high coking chambers, each of which is closed on each end by a removable door. When the carbonization of an oven charge is finished, the doors at both ends of the chamber are removed and a pusher ram is introduced into the chamber from one end and the coke cake is pushed out at the other end of the chamber. The pusher ram is carried on a pusher machine which operates on rails along the pusher face of the battery. The pusher ram is movable on the pusher machine so as to be movable into and out of the oven chambers.

When the pusher ram is in its normal or re-- tracted position, the head of the ram is located a short distance from the face of the battery. The ram must be long enough for the head of the ram to be moved from this position through an oven chamber, and also through, or substan tially through, the coke guide at the opposite or coke face of the battery.

In order for the pusher ram to have the necessary range of movement, the ram must be longer than a coking chamber and therefore must be relatively long. Accordingly, a relatively wide free-space must be provided at the pusher side of the battery to permit the pusher machine to be operated along the face of the battery.

In some cases, because of the presence of existing buildings or other structures, it is not possible to provide enough space at the pusher side of a coke oven battery in which to operate the pusher machine while carrying a pusher ram of the length required for the coking chambers.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved pusher machine incorporating an articulated pusher ram which folds in such manner that when the ram is in its retracted position, it is substantially shorter in a horizontal plane than when the ram is in its extended position.

A further object of the invention is to provide animproved pusher ram of the type described which is arranged so that the hinged joint employed therein does not detract from the rigidity of the ram.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pusher machine of the type described which is so arranged that the pusher ram, automatically assumes either its folded or its extended condition according as the pusher ram is moved respectively to or from its re-f tracted position. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pusher machine of the type described and incorporating an articulated pusher ram having a hinge which is arranged to prevent sagging of the ram when the ram is inits extended position.

Another object of the invention .is to provide an improved pusher machine of the type described and incorporating means to maintain proper engagement of the driving pinion with the teeth on the ram during movement across the pinion of the portion of the ram in which the hinge is located. r

A further object of the invention is to provide a pusher machine carrying a member movable into and out of a horizontal coke oven, said member being articulated or hinged to permit the member tofold and thereby reduce its length when it is in its retracted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pusher machine incorporating improved means effective during movement of the pusher ram into and out of a coking chamber for holding the pusher-ram supporting-shoe out of engagement with the door frame at the end of an oven chamber nearest the pusher machine and also out of engagement with the floor or sole of the oven chamber adjacent the door frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pusher machine of the type described which is so arranged that during movement of the secondary portion of its pusher ram between its folded and its extended positions the ram does not project beyond the clearance limit established for the pusher ramin its retracted position.

Other objects of the invention and features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view, partly in transverse vertical cross-section and partly in elevation, of a byproduct horizontal coke-oven battery together with an improved pusher machine provided by this invention, the pusher machine being shown with the pusher ram in its retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the pusher ram in its extended position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line III--III of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along theline IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line X--X of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a coke oven battery which includes a series of horizontal coking chambers l0, and through one of which the sectional view i taken. The coking chamber has a sole or floor II, and a roof I2 through 1 which extends the usual ofitake opening l4 that is connected by an ascension pipe with the collecting main l6. Each oven chamber issurrounded at each end by a metallic door frame I1 that is adapted to receive a removable door, not shown. The oven chamber is shown in Fig. l with a coal charge fully coked, and with the coke cake ready to be pushed from the oven chamber.

A coke guide [8 is carried by a car which is operated on rails paralleling the lefthand or coke side of the battery and serves to guide the coke cake as it leaves the oven chamber. The coke guide 18 also serves to carry the coke cake from an oven chamber across the bench 9 at the coke side of the battery so that the coke passing through the guide falls into a quenching car, not shown.

The coke cake is pushed from the oven chamber by means of a pusher ram carried by a pusher machine which i indicated generally by the numeral 20 and operates on rails 2| paralleling the righthand or pusher side of the battery. The pusher machine is constructed of heavy steel shapes and plates welded or riveted to gether. The pusher machine is electrically propelled on the rails on which it operates, and, in addition to the pusher ram, the pusher machine may carry equipment for removing and replacing the coke-oven doors on the adjacent'face of the oven battery and usually also carries a levellingv bar for levelling the newly charged coal in the oven chambers. This invention is not concerned with the construction and operation of the door-handling apparatus nor with the levelling bar, and they are being omitted in order to simplify this disclosure. Except as hereinafter explained in detail, the construction and operation of the pusher machine may b the same as the machines now in general use. i

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a building 8 located on that side of the pusher machine opposite the oven battery restricts the space available for operation of the required length of pusher ram of the pusher machine.

The pusher ram comprises a longitudinal bar having a relatively long primary or foremost portion and a relatively short secondary or hindmost portion 26 which are pivotally secured together by a hinge pin 21. The end of the pusher ram primary portion 25 nearest the battery has mounted thereon a head 30 having a vertical face which is somewhat narrower than an oven chamber and is approximately as high as the coke cake in a coking chamber. The pusher ram primary portion 25 has secured to the lower face thereof a supporting shoe 3| which is adapted to rest upon the sole or floor of an oven chamber to support the free end of the pusher ram when the pusher ram is extended within an oven chamber. The supporting shoe 3| is secured on the pusher ram primary portion 25 far enough away from the head 30 that when the pusher ram is in its fully extended position, as shown in 2, with the head 30 projecting from the coke side of an oven chamber, the shoe 3! rests on the coking chamber sole or floor a substantial distance inwardly of the door frame [1 at the coke side of the oven chamber.

Both said portions of the pusher ram have a rack or a series of gear teeth 32 thereon which mesh with teeth on the driving pinion 33. As is best shown in Figs. 6, 9 and 10, the bottom face of the pusher ram has a flat surface 34 at each side of the gear teeth 32. The surfaces 34 are substantially at the pitch line of the teeth 32 and are adapted to rest upon those cylindrical faces of the pinion 33 at each side of its toothed portion. The cylindrical faces on the pinion 33 are of substantially the pitch diameter of the teeth so that the teeth on the pinion and on the pusher ram will mesh properly when the surfaces 34 on-the pusher ram rest on the cylindrical surfaces on the pinion 33.

The primary and secondary portions of the pusher ram, except for the bracket members which are employed where the two portions of the ram are pivotally secured together and are hereinafter described in detail, may be built up of structural steel shapes welded or otherwise secured together. The rack includingthe teeth 32 and the bearing surfaces 34 on the lowerface of the pusher ram, except for a short distance adjacent the hinged joint of the ram, is preferably formed as a separate element and is secured on the lower face of the structural elements forming the pusher ram.

The pinion 33 is rotatably supported on the frame of the pusher machine by bearings at both ends of the pinion. These bearings are of large size and enable the pinion to withstand the forces exerted thereon as a result of supporting and driving the pusher ram.

The pinion 33 may be rotated by any suitable means, such as an electric motor operating through reduction gears. This invention is not concerned with the construction of the pinion driving means and this means is being omitted to simplify this disclosure.

The frame of the pusher machine has rotatably supported thereon directly over the pinion 33 a roller 36 Which is adapted to touch or be in contact with the top surface of the pusher ram to hold it down and thus maintain the teeth on the lower face of the ram in engagement with the teeth on the pinion 33 at all times.

The frame of the pusher machine has a plurality of rollers 40 rotatably supported thereon at spaced points beneath the primary portion 25 of the pusher ram. The rollers 40 have spaced cylindrical surfaces upon which are adapted to rest the fiat surfaces 34 on the bottom of the pusher ram so that the pusher ram is supported by the rollers 40 when the pusher ram is in its retracted position.

The frame of the pusher machine also has rotatably supported thereon adjacent the upper edge of the pusher ram, a plurality of rollers 42 which rotate about substantially vertical axes. As is best shown in Fig. 9, the rollers 42 are ar ranged on opposite sides of the pusher ram and are adapted to be engaged by the sides of the upper portion of the ram so that the upper portion of the ram is guided by the rollers 42.

The supporting rollers 40 and the guiding rollers 42, together with the pinion 33. and the roller 36, cooperate to form on the pusher machine a guideway in which the pusher ram reciprocates. This guideway is somewhat shorter than. pusher ram primary portion 25 and is so located that when the pusher ram is in its retracted. position, the pusher ram primary portion projects over both ends of this guideway, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The rear of the primary portion .25 of the pusher ram has. secured thereto a head or bracket member indicated generally at 43, and'shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6. The member 43 is a steel casting of substantially the same height and width as the remainder of the primary portion of the pusher ram. The lower righthandportion. of the member 43, as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, is bifurcated, as is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and is adapted to receive the tongue or projection on the head or bracket member 44 which is secured to the front of the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram. The bracketmember 44 is also a steel casting and the major part of the member 44 is of substantially the same. height and width as the remainder of the pusher ram, but the tongue or projection at the front of the member. 44 is substantially narrower than the remainder of the member; This tongue or projection is located substantially along the longitudinal center lineof i the pusher ram and, as best shown in Fig. 6, has an enlarged bearing portion in which there is a bore which is in alignment with bores in the depending side portions of the member 43. As is clearly shown in Fig. 6, the sides of the member 43 have substantially parallel inner faces and the space between the faces of the member 43 is substantially completely filled bythe extension on the member. 44 which has substantially parallel side faces. The hinge pin 21 extends through the bores in the members 43 and 44 and is secured by a set screw 46 to the member 44 so that the pin 45 turns in the member 43.

As is best shown in Figs. 5 and 7 the members 43 and 44 have substantially parallel confronting surfaces adjacent the upper edge ofthe pusher ram, as indicated. at 41. and 48. Each of these faces has a centrally disposed recess therein, and a block 50 is secured in' the recess in the face 48 of the member 44 and extends into the recess in the face 41 on the member 43 when the secondary portion 26 .of thepusher ram is in alignment with the pusher ram, primary portion 25.

The projecting corners on the block'5ll are chamfered or tapered, as: illustrated in Fig. 7, so that the block 50 is certain to enter the recess in the surface 41 onlupward movement of the rear portion 26 ofthe pusherram. The sides of the block Ell-adjacent theface 48 are substantially parallel and this portion of the block 50 is of such width as to substantially fill the recess in the. member:-

50 does not touch the bottom of the recess in the face 41. The-clearance between the block 50 and the bottom of the recess in the face 4! prevents dirt or foreign matter which may collect in this recess from interfering with movement of the secondary portion 255 of the pusher ram all of the way to its extended position.

The member 44 which is secured to the forward end of the secondary or rear portion of the pusher ram has a transverse bore therein in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 52. The ends of the shaft 52 project from the faces of the member 44 and have flanged wheels 53 rigidly secured thereon. The flanges on the wheels 53 are located at the inner edges of the wheels, as is shown in Fig. 3, while the substantially cylindricaltread portions of the wheels are adapted to rest upon the surfaces of a curved track indicated generally atfill and formed on the structural. framework of the pusher machine. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, track 60 comprises an upper horizontal portion, an intermediate downwardly descending curvilinear portion and a lower substantially horizontal portion.

As is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the track 60 is bifurcated and includes a portion on each side of the pusher ram. Each portion of the track Ell has a relatively wide, flat top or tread surface onwhich one of the wheels 53 operates. The tread surface on each of the tracks is formed by two thicknesses of steel plate and is supported by a vertically disposed steel plate, the upper edge of which is curved substantially as shown in Figs. land 2 of the drawings. The left-hand end portion of the tread surface of each of the tracks 60 is substantially horizontal and is a short distance above the level of the lower edge of the principal portion of the pusher ram. The extreme left-hand end of the tread portion of each of the tracks is turned downwardly slightly, as indicated. attfil in Fig. 8, to insure that the wheels 53. move onto the track on movement of the pusher ram from its extended position to the right towards its retracted position. The lefthand end portion of each of the tracks 60 is relatively fiat or horizontal and is connected by a convexly curved portion with a downwardly sloping portion which gradually merges through a concavely curved portion with the extreme righthand end portion which is nearly horizontal.

The member 43, which is secured to the rear endof the primary portion 25 of the pusher rain, has a transverse bore thereinin which is rotatably mounted a shaft 64. The ends of the shaft 84 project from the faces of the member 43 and have wheels 65 rigidly secured thereon. The wheels 65 have cylindrical tread surfaces and do not have flanges, and are adapted to r011 upon the surfaces on guide members 66 and 68 on the pusher machine framework on opposite sides of the upper edge of the pusher ram. As.is best shown in Figs. 8 and 9,. the guide members 66 extend downwardly from the pusher machine framework and have relatively wide tread surfaces which are adapted to be engaged by the wheels 65. As best shown in Figsnl and 2, the tread surfaces on the guide members 66 are substantially horizontal throughout their length, being turned up slightly at their ends to facilitate movement of the wheels 55 onto andotf from these surfaces. 1

a The guide members 68 are similar to the guide members 86, but are located in the region immediately in advance of the pinion 33 so as to be engaged by the wheels 65 when the pusher ram is adjacent its extreme extended position.

The wheels 53 and 65 are secured to the pusher ram'portions in'such manner that during movement of the pusher ram between its two positions the wheels 53 roll on the surface of the track 60 but do not engage the-guide or'bearing members 66 and 68, and in such manner that the wheels 65 roll on the guide or bearing members 66 and 68 but do not engage the track 63.

The pusher ram may have associated therewith suitable limit switches for controlling the motor which operates the driving pinion 33, but this invention is not concerned with these limit switches, nor with the means for governing them, and they are being omitted in order to simplify this disclosure. v p h .In Fig. 1 of the drawings the pusher ram is shown in its retracted position. At this time the primary portion .ofthe pusher ram is supported on therollers 46, and on the pinion 33, with the righthand end of this portion of the ram projecting over the track 6|] so that the hinge pin 21 is located over the righthand end portion of the track 66. The rear or secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram hangs substantially vertically from the primary portion 25 of the bar and the wheels 53 rest on the track 60.

' Qn initial movement of the primary portion 25,0f the pusher ram to the left towards its extended position, the upper end of the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram moves to the left.

This results in some movement of the wheels 53 to the left on the track 60 so that the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram moves to the left. This also results in some rotary movement of the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram about the axis of the wheels 53, thereby tending to move the lower end of the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram to the right. The various parts of the equipment are arranged and so proportioned that the movement of the lower end of the pusher ram secondary portion 26 to the right as a result of movement of this portion of the ram about the axis of the wheels 53 is not greater than the movement of this ram portion as a whole to the left as a result of movement of the wheels 53 along the track 66.

This process continues on further movement of the principal portion of the pusher ram to the left, the entire secondary portion of the ram moving to the left because of movement of the wheels 53 along the track 60, while this portion of the ram turns in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of the wheels 53. When the wheels 53 reach the substantially level upper portion of the tracl; 60 at the lefthand end of the track, there is no further movement of the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram about the axis of the wheels 53.' However, by this time thisportion of thepusher ram has moved about the hinge pin 2'! so that the confronting faces 41 and 48 are in engagement and the two portions of the pusher ram are substantially in alignment.

The arrangement and operation of the track 60 and associated parts on the pusher ram are such that the lower end of the secondary portion 26 of the .pusher ram is not moved to the right beyond the position which it occupies when the pusher ram is in its fully retracted position. This result is facilitated by the fact that the free end of the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram has an angular face, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Hence, clearance which is adequate for the pusher machine while the pusher ram is in its fully retractedposition is adequate during movement of the pusher ram away from its retracted position.

As the primary portion 25 of the pusher ram moves to the left, the relatively heavy head portion 30, of the ram is farther and farther from the pinion 33; and therefore exerts more and more force to move the free or head end of the pusher ram down. During the initial portion of the movement of the pusher ram away from its retracted position, the force exerted by the portion of the ram at the right of the pinion 33 overbalances the force exerted by the portion of the ram' at the left of the pinion and prevents downward movement of the free end of the pusher ram. r i

As soon as the pusher ram primary portion has moved a short distance to the left, the Wheels 65 pass under the guide or bearing members 66 and hold-the righthand end of the primary portion of the pusher ram down, thus holding the free end of the pusher ram up and preventing counter-clockwise movement of the ram about the pinion 33. The various parts of; the pusher ma'chineand pusher ram are so arranged that during outward movement of the pusher ram the shoe 3| is'held above the door frame I 1 at the adjacent end of the oven chamber, and also above the refractory floor or sole II of the oven chamber for a substantial distance inside'the door frame. These portions-of the oven chamber might be damaged if engaged by the pusher ram supporting shoe 3|, and this possibility is eliminated by the guide or bearing members 66 and the wheels 65 'which hold the free end of the pusher ram up during movement of the supporting shoe 3| across the door frame I! and the adjacent portion of the oven chamber sole or floor.

As the pusher ram moves to the left, the wheels 53 on the secondary portion 26 of the :pusher ram pass oil the track 60, but by this time the secondary portion of the pusher ram rests on the rollers 40 and no longer'requires the support of the wheels 53.

On further movement of the pusher ram to the left the Wheels 65 pass from beneath the guide members 66 and cease to holdthe righthand end of the primary portion of the pusher ram. Hence, the pusher ram can pivot about the driving pinion 33 as a fulcrum so that the supporting shoe 3| rests on the sole or floor H of the oven chamber. However, before this occurs, the pusher ram will have advanced far enough into the oven chamber that the shoe 3| will engage a portion of the oven chambersole or floor which is located a substantial distance from the door frame I! and is strong enough to withstand the forces exerted thereon by the supporting shoe. At this time, the righthand end of the pusher ram primary portion raises up slightly but not enough to cause the wheels 65 to engage the pusher machine framework, nor to cause the wheels 53 on the secondary portion of the pusher ram to engage the guide members.

'On further movement of the pusher ram to the left the supporting shoe 3| slides on the sole or floor of the oven chamber while the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram is supported by the rollers 40. When the pusher ram advances to the point at which the hinge pin 2! approaches the driving pinion 33, 'the wheels 65 carried by the primary portion 25 of the pusher ram pass under the guide or bearing members 68 to hold the teeth on the pusher ram in engagement with the teeth on the driving pinion. The engagement of the wheels 65 with the guide members 68 prevents flexing or pivoting of the two portions of the pusher ram when the portions of the pusher ram adjacent the hinge pin 21 passover the pinion gear 33. In addition, when the pinion gear 33 exerts force through the teeth on thesecondary portion of the pusher ram, the guide members 68 cooperate with the wheels 65 to prevent lifting of the hinged portion of the two parts of the pusher ram. This insures that force applied to the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram will be transmitted through the hinged joint to the primary portion 25 of the pusher rain to slide the supporting shoe 3! on the oven chamber sole or floor.

'When the pusher ram reaches the extreme end of its range of movement, the motor driving the pinion 33 is stopped and the equipment is then substantially in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 1 At this time, the lefthand end of the pusher ram rests on the supporting-shoe 3|, and the righthand end of the pusher ram rests on the driving pinion 33, while the hinge pin 21 is located intermediate the two points of support of the pusher ram. The weight of the ram causes the hinged ends of thetwo portions of the pusher rain to tend to drop. However, engagement of the confronting surfaces Hand 48 on the two portions of the pusherram prevent sagging of the pusher ram. In addition, at this time the engagement of the block 56 with thesides ofthe recess in the face 41 of the member 43 prevents twisting of the two portions of the pusher ram relative to each other and insures that they remain in alignment;

When the pusher ram is to be Withdrawn from the oven chamber, the driving motor is operated to rotate the driving pinion 33 in aclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 so that force is-exerted through the teeth on the bottom of the pusher ram to draw the pusher ram out of the oven chamber. After initial movement of the pusher ram to the right, the wheels 65 engage the guide members 68 tohold' the teeth on the pusher ram in engagement with the teeth on the pinion 33; The wheels 65 continue in engagement with the guidemembers 68 until the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram passes off the pinion 33 and the teeth on the righthand end of the primary portion .25 of the pusher ram are engaged by the driving pinion. After the wheels 65 pass out frombeneath the guide members EB, theteeth on the bottom of the pusher ram are held engagement with the teeth on the pinion by the weight of, the pusher ram and by theroller 36. u v Q During movement of the pusher ram 'to the right at thistime, the supporting shoe 3| slides on the sole or floor of the oven chamber. When the pusher ram has moved a substantial distance to the right, the wheels 65 pass under the guide members 66, and at this time the righthand end ofthe primary portion 25 of the pusher ram is moved downwardly slightly with the result that this pusher ram portion pivots about .the driving pinion 33 slightly sothat the supporting shoe 3| is lifted out of engagement with the sole or floor ofthe oven chamber. Accordingly, on further outward movement of the pusher ram, the supporting shoe-3| will not engage the portionsof the oven sole or floor I] adjacentthe door frame 11, nor will theshoe 3i engage the door frame 11, and therefore will not damage these portions of the oven. The wheels 65 and guide members 66 cooperate to hold the free or head end of the pusher ram up until the supporting shoe passes out of the oven chamber and until the portion of the pusher ram at the right of the pinion 33 overbalances that at the left of the pinion and thus insures that the free or head end of the pusher ram will be held up.

When the pusher. ram moves to the right to the point at which the wheels 65 are near the middle of the guide or bearing members 66, the wheels 53 enter onto the track 69. Thereafter, the wheels 65 pass from beneath the guide members 66 and the wheels 53 leave the horizontal portion of the track 60 and enter the downwardly curving portion of the track. As the wheels 53 traverse the downwardly curving portion of the track. (iii, the righthand end of the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram moves downwardly so that there is a constant reduction in the horizontal distance through. which the end of the secondary portion 26 of the pusher ram extends beyond the righthand end of the primary portion 25 of the pusher ram.

When the pusher ram completes its movement to its retracted position, the wheels 53 are near the righthand end of the track 60 and the secondary portion of the pusher ram hangs substantially vertically and the equipment is in the condition shown in Fig, 1. As explained in connection with movement of the pusher ram towards its extended position, the track 60 and related parts of the equipment are so arranged that in different positions of the primary portion of the pusher ram and of the wheels 53, the righthand end of the secondary portion of the pusher ram will not be substantially farther to the right than it is when the pusher ram is in its fully retracted position.

Although I have herein illustrated and described in detail one form of pusher machine with an articulated pusher ram embodying my invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these details and that numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. In an articulated pusher ram for a coke oven pusher machine, a first and a second ram portion, said first ram portion being of substantially greater horizontal extent than of vertical extent, each of said ram portions having ahead member at the end thereof adjacent the other of said ram portions, one of said head members having on its exposed end and adjacent the lower face of said pusher ram spaced side sections, the other of said head members having on its exposed end a projection which is adapted to extend between the side sections on said one head member, the side sections on said one head member and the projection on said other head member having aligned openings therein, and a hinge pin mounted in said alignedopenings, each" of said head members having on its exposed end adjacent the upper face of said pusher ram a bearing face which is engaged by the bearing face on the other of said members on upward movement of the free end of one of saidram portions to the position in which said ram portions are inalignment, the bearing'face on one of said head members having a recess therein, the, bearing face on the other of said head members havin a projection thereon which extends into said recess when said bearing surfaces are in engagement.

2. In a device for pushing coke horizontally out of any one of a series of coke ovens in a parallel arranged battery thereof, said device comprising a carriage movable along the front face of said battery, a ram mounted on said carriage, and means for reciprocating said ram between a retracted position in which the entire ram is located outside the oven and an extended position in which the head of the ram extends beyond the open back of the oven, the improvement wherein said ram comprises articulated sections and the hindmost section has a roller wheel affixed thereto near the point of articulation and wherein said carriage comprises a stationary track for said roller wheel positioned on the side of the carriage opposite to the oven face, said track having a downwardly descending curvilinear portion shaped so that the outer end of said hindmost portion of the ram descends vertically downwardly without extending substantially beyond the outer end of said track 3. In a device for pushing coke horizontally out of any one of a series of coke ovens in a parallel arranged battery thereof, said device comprising 7 a carriage movable along the front face of said battery, a ram mounted on said carriage, and means for reciprocatin said ram between a retracted position in which the entire ram is located outside the oven and an extended position in which the head of the ram extends beyond the open back of the oven, the improvement wherein said ram comprises articulated sections and the hindmost section has a roller means aflixed thereto near the point of articulation and wherein said carriage comprises a stationary track adapted to engage said roller means and positioned on the side of the carriage opposite to the oven face, said track having an upper horizontal portion, an intermediate downwardly descending curvilinear portion and a lower horizontal portion shaped so that the outer end of said hindmost portion of the ram moves from a horizontal position to a depending vertical position without extending substantially beyond the outer end of said track.

4. In a coke oven pusher machine, a carriage havin driving means supported thereon and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, said driving means having teeth and a cylindrical bearing surface thereon, a pusher ram having a head at its foremost end and having adjacent said foremost end a depending supporting shoe, said pusher ram having on its lower face throughout the length of the ram substantially from said shoe to the hindmost end of the ram atoothed rack adapted to cooperate with the teeth on said driving means and a bearing surface adapted to rest on said cylindrical bearing surface, said pusher ram being reciprocable by said driving means between a retracted position in which said supporting shoe i adjacent said driving means and an extended position in which the hindmost end of said ram is adjacent said driving means, said, pusher ram comprising two sections which are pivotally secured together at a point intermediate said shoe and the hindmost end of said ram so that said sections are movable about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the ram,,and means carried by the two portions of said ram and effective when said ram is in its extended position for preventing movement of the pivoted ends of said ram below the horizontal plane in which the two portions of the ram are in alignment.

5. In a coke oven pusher machine, a carriage having a driving pinion mounted thereon for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said pinion having teeth thereon and comprising at each side of said teeth a cylindrical bearing surface, and an articulated pusher ram reciprocable by said pinion, said pusher ram comprising a first and a second portion, said first portion having spaced side members the lower faces of which are adapted to rest on the cylindrical bearing surfaces on said pinion during movement of said ram across said pinion and a toothed rack positioned between said side members and adapted to be engaged by the teeth in said pinion, said second portion having an end of reduced width which projects between the spaced side members on said first member and having on its lower face a toothed rack adapted to cooperate with the teeth on said pinion and having at each side of said rack a bearing surface adapted to rest on a cylindrical bearing surface on said pinion, a hinge pin extending through aligned openings in the spaced side members on said first portion and in the reduced end on said second portion.

6. In a device for pushing coke horizontally out of any one of a series of coke ovens in a parallel arranged battery thereof, said device comprising a carriage movable along the front face of said battery, a ram mounted on said carriage, and means for reciprocating said ram between a retracted position in which the entire ram is located outside the oven and an extended position in which the head of the ram extends beyond the open back of the oven, the improvement wherein said ram comprises articulated sections and the foremost portion has affixed to the bot: tom and near the front end thereof a shoe adapted to slide along the sole of the oven and to support said foremost portion when the ram is in its fully extended position, wherein said foremost portion has aifixed thereto roller means and wherein said carriage comprises guide means positioned above and adapted to engage said roller means so as to maintain said shoe out of contact, with the sole of the oven until said shoe is a substantial distance within the oven.

'7. In a device for pushing coke horizontally out, of any one of a series of coke ovens in a parallel arranged battery thereof, said device comprising a carriage movable along the front face of said battery, a ram mounted on said carriage, and means for reciprocating said ram between a retracted position in which the entire ram is located outside the oven and an extended position in which the head of the ram extends beyond the open back of the oven, the improvement wherein said ram comprises articulated sections andthe hindmost section has a roller wheel afiixed thereto near the point of articulation, wherein said carriage comprises a stationary track for said roller wheel positioned on the side of the carriage opposite to the oven face, said track having a downwardly descending curvilinear portion shaped so that the outer end of said hindmost portion of the ram descends vertically downwardly Without extending substantially beyond the outer end of said track, wherein the foremost section of the ram has affixed to the bottom and near the front end thereof a shoe adapted to slide along the sole of the oven and to supportlsaid foremost portion when the ram is in its fully extended position, wherein said foremost portion has aflixed thereto roller means and wherein saidcarriage comprises guide means positioned above and adapted to engage said roller means so as to maintain said shoe out of contact with the sole of the oven until said shoe is a substantial distance within the oven.

8. In a device for pushing coke horizontally out of any one of a series of coke ovens in a parallel arranged battery thereof, said device comprising a carriage movable along the front face of said battery, a ram mounted on said carriage, and means comprising a driving pinion on the carriage near the oven for reciprocating said ram between a retracted position in which the entire ram is located outside the oven and an extended position in which the head of the ram extends beyond the open back of the oven, the improvement wherein said ram comprises two articulated sections having on their bottom faces toothed racks adapted to cooperate with said driving pinion and the foremost section has afiixed to the bottom and near the front thereof a shoe adapted to slide along the sole of the oven and to support said foremost section when the ram is in its fully extended position, wherein said foremost section has affixed thereto roller means, and wherein said carriage comprises a first and a second bearing surface positioned above and adapted to engage said roller means during movement of said ram in different portions of its range of movement, said first bearing surface and said roller means cooperating to cause said pusher ram to pivot about said driving pinion as a fulcrum in such a manner as to hold said supporting shoe out of engagement with the door of the oven and out of engagement with the portion of the sole of the oven adjacent the oven door frame, said second bearing surface and said roller means cooperating to hold the toothed rack in engagement with said driving pinion during movement of said pusher ram in the portion of its range of movement in which the end of the foremost section of said ram adjacent the hindmost section of said ram or in Which any part of the hindmost section of said ram is over said driving pinion.

9. In a device for pushing coke horizontally out of any one of a series of coke ovens in a parallel arranged battery thereof, said device comprising a carriage movable along the front face of said battery, a ram mounted on said carriage, and means comprising a driving pinion on the carriage near the oven for reciprocating said ram between a retracted position in which the entire ram is located outside the oven and an extended position in which the head of the ram extends beyond the open back of the oven, the improvement wherein said ram comprises two articulated sections having on their bottom faces toothed racks adapted to cooperate with said driving pinion and the foremost section has affixed to the bottom and near the front thereof a shoe adapted to slide along the sole of the oven and to support said foremost section when the ram is in its fully extended position, wherein said foremost section has aifixed thereto roller means, and wherein said carriage comprises a first and a second bearing surface positioned above and adapted to engage said roller means during movement of said ram in different portions of its range of move ment, said first bearing surface and said roller means cooperating to cause said pusher ram to pivot about said driving pinion as a fulcrum in such a manner as to hold said supporting shoe out of engagement with the door of the oven and out of engagement with the portion of the sole of the oven adjacent the oven door frame, said second bearing surface and said roller means cooperating to hold the toothed rack in engagement with said driving pinion during movement of said pusher ram in the portion of its range of movement in which the end of the foremost section of said ram adjacent the hindmost section of said ram or in which any part of the hindmost section of said ram is over said driving pinion, wherein the hindmost section has a roller wheel affixed thereto near the point of articulation and wherein said carriage comprises a stationary track for said roller wheel positioned on the side of the carriage opposite to the oven face, said track having a downwardly descending curvilinear portion shaped so that the outer end of said hindmost portion of the ram smoothly descends vertically downwardly without extending substantially beyond the outer end of said track.

PAUL HOWARD LAVELY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,351,224 Williams, Jr Aug. 31, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 390,041 Germany 1 Feb. 12, 1924 

